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Codename: Panzers - Phase One

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8.7 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 38 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 18 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: CDV Software

Developer: Stormregion

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: September 30, 2004

Summary

No, this can't be! Initial outpost reports showed only armored infantry, but some serious hardware is headed this way! How could two 70-ton German Königstiger battle tanks simply be overlooked?! Well, no time to lay blame, just aim the bazooka and bring up the tanks from the rear. Only a direct hit can destroy them. Codename: Panzers thrusts you into the high-powered battles of World War II. Whether played in towns with bullet-riddled buildings, bleak mountain landscapes, or treacherous swamps, Codename: Panzers offers real-time combat rampages with awesome 3D graphics. Create your combat force from over 100 finely detailed units, from a flame-throwing squad to a Soviet Stalin organ rocket launcher to a German Königstiger battle tank. Be the commander - demolish the enemy with clever tactical maneuvers. Experience the nerve-jangling thrill of strategic gaming - in Codename: Panzers! [CDV]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Codename: Panzers - Phase Two

Also On The Web: Adrenaline Vault Preview Boomtown Preview GameSpot Preview GameSpy Preview IGN Preview Official Website Worth Playing Preview

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

IC-Games

The detail that has gone into this title is breathtaking... Codename Panzers has entered the stage as a virgin and almost instantly become the ‘meat and two veg’ of the WW2 RTS genre, in actual fact we challenge you to find a better RTS alternative altogether.

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Da Gameboyz

Adds to the genre with it's fluid, balanced use of units and beautiful graphics. This is a must own for all you RTS fans out there.

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Computer Games Magazine

It's got fast combat that is always meaningful and features lots of exciting decision-making and quick movement. [Nov 2004, p.81]

Gamer's Hell

A great game that is easy to learn, a joy to play, and a blast with friends.

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Loaded Inc

While the game background history will be more than familiar, Panzers does have a real fun-factor. Thanks to the great visuals and the quick paced free-flowing nature of the gameplay we think this has to be one of the best this year.

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RealGamer

Unlike many tactical focused titles the game doesn’t bog you down with unnecessary commands, the interface has been kept simple and this accessibility only adds to the enjoyment of an action packed strategy title that’s packed with loads of missions.

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GameSpot

It provides plenty of interesting units and destructible environments to play around with, and it contains a ton of content, including three big campaigns, all of which result in an excellent, all-around real-time strategy game.

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GameZone

The excellent graphics, good controls and great sound effects also add up to a great game. But all is not perfect, the difficulty and the occasional AI misstep might put off some gamers.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

Codename: Panzers has seemingly appeared from nowhere – at least on these shores – yet has effortlessly succeeded in being one of the best RTS titles of the year so far.

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DailyGame

With three campaigns, 30 lengthy missions and online multiplayer, it’s no wonder Codename: Panzers will keep you playing (and loving every minute of it) for a long time to come.

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eToychest

The game is different enough from other RTS's to keep even the most jaded of fans interested, and the game looks and feels so spectacular that those new to the genre will fall in love immediately.

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Warcry

A solid game that, with a few AI patches and voice-overs, could be one of the great tank games of the decade.

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Gaming Nexus

A fascinating real-time strategy game that will completely immerse you in the action.

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Worth Playing

Panzers is one of the best RTS games I’ve played in the last ten years, although I’ll put in the disclaimer that I really, really hate base building.

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IGN

The game consistently delivers the interesting and varied tactical challenges that seem to be missing from so many other real-time strategy games. Simply put, fans of real-time strategy games can't go wrong with this one.

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VideoGamesLife

It’s uncomplicated, enjoyable and unashamedly action-packed: this is for gamers who don’t know exactly what they want. If they want meat, they’ll have chicken; if they want a drink, they’ll have lager; if they want a strategy game, they’ll have something good looking, easy to get into and more fun than a drunken weekend with Kiera Knightley.

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PC Gamer

The combination of drop-jaw visuals, absorbing missions, and overall realism make for good times...Better suited for casual players. [Nov 2004, p.102]

Armchair Empire

Codename Panzers does an effective job of stripping away the standard base building options and replacing them with a strategic core for battles that is thoroughly engaging.

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1UP

Gameplay is balanced with a feel almost like a football game and similarly gives more sense of reward for good tactics than often felt in strategy games.

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Adrenaline Vault

It’s not often you have such a personal interest in your digital troops' survival and treat them as anything but grist for the meat mill, but Stormregion has managed to make it so you feel like a mother hen and take it personally if one of your guys buys the farm.

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Gamer.tv

Manages to be comprehensive, intutive, and visually very impressive all in one package.

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Boomtown

It's a casual approach to the genre, but that doesn't hurt gameplay at all. If anything it improves it.

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Yahoo! Games

Although Codename Panzers doesn't do anything particularly new, it's polished, presented beautifully, and positively bursting with lasting appeal.

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GameSpy

The interface is especially straightforward and the game is simple to play yet provides a breath of order and commands for your units.

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Computer and Video Games

Yes, that's what it is: it's Second World Warcraft.

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AceGamez

With added skirmish missions, multiplayer and increased difficulty settings, there's plenty to stick around for once the main game has been completed.

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GamerFeed

The only disappointment is the somewhat static AI and unbelievable damage model. But the fast and fun gameplay and the diverse missions make up for any of these shortcomings.

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Gamers Europe

There are no elements that stand out as revolutionary, however it’s rare something goes wrong. It’s impossible not to enjoy this title but those looking for a new challenge should board another tank.

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Sydney Morning Herald

The most striking aspect of the game is the stunning graphics, with a true 3D environment and controllable camera. Not only is everything extremely detailed but the environments are fully destructible, with pristine villages soon becoming smoking piles of rubble after particularly fierce battles.

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Game Informer

It does perhaps the best job I've seen of being realistic and true to its World War II subject matter, while keeping the gameplay fast and accessible - a thin line which is not easily straddled. [Dec 2004, p.188]

Gamezilla!

Most of the hardcore strategists will probably only find a bit of eye candy wrapped around a good, but uninspired plotline, and little to add in replay value.

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PC Format

It’s interesting enough, but it’s lacking any real innovation. At all.

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Computer Games Online RO

If you are a true strategy fan you probably wouldn't want to miss this one, as it is by no means a bad game, only a mediocre one.

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ActionTrip

I cannot say it has many faults, but its AI is lacking and it definitely needs more polish. The thing with Codename: Panzers is that it is very playable, though not revolutionary or original in any way.

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Thunderbolt

There's clearly been a lot of effort put into the presentation, authenticity and lifespan of the game, but it falls down in its appeal to newcomers to the genre. A tutorial may be present, but the steep learning curve and tough difficulty level will put many off.

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Total Video Games

Like most RTS titles, the biggest fault with Panzers is that the gameplay is rather samey. True, the progressing storyline adds some interest to the game, but because missions are usually ‘capture this bridge’ or ‘secure this town’, the missions can blend into one another.

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Computer Gaming World

The pathfinding problems suck a lot of the joy out of this WWII tankfest. [Nov 2004, p.86]

games(TM)

It sounds promising but, to be honest, there really isn’t anything here that we haven’t seen a hundred times before, and for that reason alone it’s very difficult to get excited about Codename: Panzers. [Sept 2004, p.117]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

S. Vest gave it a4:
I seem to be the only one who sees the numerous flaws in this game. It strays so far from historical reality that it's little more than a video game. Air power was the key to beating the Germans in Europe so why is it so seldom available to offset the German superiority in tanks? It's VERY limited in the number of vehicles that are available to the player. Why, in a game with landmines (and where ground troops are essentially helpless) are there no SherDozers or Crabs available to clear mines? The AI for even your own troops is clueless. Vehicles will choose to go into discovered minefields unless you watch them closely. Self-propelled artillery, when told to directly attack a target will come up to point-blank range (and become easy targets) rather than lobbing shells from a distance. Also, on map artillery cannot attack an area of the map unless one of your troops is observing that spot. That makes NO sense. People looking for a MUCH more enjoyable WWII strategy game should check out Steel Panthers World at War. It's not as pretty but it makes for a lot less frustrating (and more fun) experience and it's a FREE download.

Grog B. gave it a 10:
Just awesome.

Peter P. gave it a 10:
FANTASTIC!

A. Wood gave it a 9:
Outstanding , easily the best WW2 themed RTS on the market. Above average AI, excellent graphics. Urban warfare is a blast and filled with tension one wrong move can easily hand you defeat. Well done.

Joel K. gave it a 9:
What a great game for any RTS fan. Gameplay is very fresh and circles around strategy, not unit production. Graphics are the best I have seen in a RTS game. Texture work is brilliant as is the partial effects found within this game. Sound is awsome. EAX 3.0 really shines through my 5.1 speaker setup. I can recommend this game to any gamer.

Daniel C. gave it an 8:
Codename: Panzers is a nice break from the traditional build-and-destroy RTS, focusing on the strategy and tactics of warfare. Although not revolutionary or ground-breaking it is a nice step forward for the RTS genre and there are many things to merit this game. The Gepard engine makes this game one of the most visually stunning RTS games around. The excellent level designs also help with the atmosphere and often times you can actually feel that you're back in 1939, whether it's on the field or in major cities. Audio is also well-incorporated in the game and you can literally feel the blast from artillery fire as it rips through the battlefield. The variety and highly-specialized nature of the units also adds to the depth of gameplay, offering something other than simple run and attack action. The story and characters aren't neglected though and through the journals and cutscenes you can get a feel of the state of the war as well as the attitudes of the heroes you control. Often times I felt a strong empathy with them, wanting them to succeed, even when I know they won't from history. However, as with any game there are a number of flaws, namely the AI and the movement. The computer AI isn't that smart and often times they'll simply sit there while you pummel them with artillery. Even when they do engage you actively they don't use any special tactics and simply rush you with whatever units they have. Battles often times become tedious and repetitive as a result. The movement of the units I also found annoying, with units all moving independently to their destinations. It would have been better to have them move in formation to reduce the huge amount of shifting and crowding that happens, especially with tanks. Of course this is a problem with just about any RTS game but the bulky, slow-moving tanks make it that much more apparent. These flaws don't wreck the game but are areas for improvement. Overall this is a very enjoyable game and well worth buying and playing. Although some of the missions are tedious they each have something to offer and the large-scale battles are well worth it. The realism and fast-paced nature of the game really shines in comparison to others and it's nice to simply jump into battles. The game should be easy enough for any gamer to get into while still offering enough complexity to interest the hardcore RTS gamer. If you've played other games of this type you won't be disappointed with this title and any gamer interested in WW2, strategy, and general warfare will find this game a treat.

Peter O. gave it a 10:
The missions are thrilling and varied...and the best is the graphics! amazing!!!

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Codename: Panzers - Phase One

Game Info

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